January 2025
Annual Members Meeting
Members of the CIA held their annual meeting on November 23rd at St. Mary’s fellowship hall in Cold Spring. Chairman Dr. Vincent Tamagna, who recently took a position in Broward County, Florida and moved this Fall presided over the election of a new chairperson, board member Laura Mayer. In Tamagna’s words, “Laura’s longstanding relationship with West Point and her love for Constitution Island position her perfectly to forge the future of the Association.” Read more in the Mid-Hudson news.
Getting our books in order
In a show of good faith to complete his tasks as CIA Chairman this past summer, Dr. Vincent Tamagna completed the gift of the Warner Family Papers to West Point as per an agreement done in 2019 that states “custody of the Warner Archives from the Constitution Island Association… The collection, comprised of correspondence, pictures, books, and Susan Warner's diary excerpts is appropriate for the Library’s Special Collections, and it is the intention of the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the CIA to donate the collection to the U.S. Military Academy.”
The archive boxes were catalogued by CIA volunteers and brought to the library so that when “Special Collections” moves to the recently renovated Cullum Hall basement, the Warner Papers will move and be catalogued with the collection. The safe-keeping and availability for researchers to access these important documents will be much enhanced as part of the Jefferson Library.
In addition, a large amount of Warner books and memorabilia have been returned to the CIA. Our volunteers, led by Carol Martini, are working to develop a catalogue of the many editions and to showcase a “primary” edition of each of the books the Warner sisters published displayed in the parlor of the Warner House. Because of the many pirated books and the various titles the books were published using, this has been a big job, but hopefully will be completed in the off-season so that our 2025 visitors will enjoy seeing the full collection.
If you would like to help with the Warner House Library project, we will also be protecting and placing the extensive Warner library in a better-organized system and would love volunteers. Please contact the CIA office manager at ciaatwp@gmail.com
Garden Update: "3 Sisters Garden" pays tribute to First Americans on the island
As part of the on-going garden and grounds development plan, this year we added a vegetable plot behind the house.
The site of an extensive home garden in the Warner’s days, the circular “3 Sister’s Plot” and vegetable companion planting garden that consists of corn, beans and squash often cited as originating with the first Native Americans on the land, became a special project of our West
Point homeschool family, the Phillips. Hand dug, planted and tended by mom, Katrina, and four of her eight children: Betsy, Lily, Matthew and Isaac, we all helped weed, water and harvest a wonderful snap pea and prolific zucchini harvest. The corn did not fare as well, but
we hope to add amendments in the coming season and continue to enjoy the fruits of our labors. The gardens welcome volunteers of all ages! Please contact Cynthia Thomas if you’re interested in helping in the coming season.
Become a member today and get 10% off Gift Shop
Our membership drive is getting started for 2025 and we need you! For all new and returning members, we will offer a gift shop discount of 10%. Here is a peek at our online store. We hope to expand this year and have many more items at the Gift Shop in the Warner House.
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